So I have made it to entry four of teacher appreciation, and I would be amiss if I never spoke of present day teachers. My daughter has now preparing to exit the second grade. She is a wonderful, energetic, smart, and curious young lady. While I would like to say that this is all do to the work of my wife and me, that is not the case. Yes. We can take credit for a good portion of who she has become, but there have been so many other people in her life. Each one of those people have also shared in shaping the person we now have. Some of those people who deserve the biggest credit are her teachers.
Our daughter, like so many other children today, started off at the local day care center. She has had teachers involved in her life since eight months of age. Some people might not consider the caregivers of infants as teachers, but they are. They taught social skills, games, how to use imagination, and so many other things. As a baby, I could not tell if she was happy or not, but when we would come in to get her, we always saw what appeared to be a happy child. These teachers gave eight hours of love to little ones. They gave their energy in keeping up with a room full of toddlers. They listened to the fears, dreams, and joys of little people who had to hug their parents good-bye each and every morning. Our little one enjoyed these teachers for her first four years of life. They may not have taught her fractions, but they help to teach her to care and be a wonderful little person.
She spent the first two years of formal schooling at the local Catholic school. We struggled with the decision, but, being that her Godfather was the pastor at the time, we gave the school a try. While one might assume that this would not have been all that different than dropping her at day-care, it was. It helped that Mrs. R. was there every morning with this wonderful smile on her face. She greeted both students and parents with a look of excitement. I had the pleasure of walking our little one to school every morning since it was two blocks from the office. Only a few weeks in, she asked that I stop at the main gate and let her go. Fortunately, for me, this was not allowed. Early 5s had to be walked to their classrooms. Every morning, she would hop, skip, jump, and run to school. She felt welcomed and loved at school. Why wouldn’t a little one want to run to a place like that.
Her kindergarten year was no different – well I wasn’t allowed to walk her to class. She had to line up outside. Ms. C. made sure that our little bug was growing. Kindergarten should be a time for fun, learning to make friends, and starting those ABCs. While when I was in Kindergarten at least. Our little one was taking up reading, working with numbers. Yet, she never knew she was learning. She would come home every night to share with us everything that she took in during the day. Yes, she colored, painted, climbed the jungle gym, and enjoyed life. Another fine teacher that expanded her life.
Then came first grade. We were worried since she moved to public school and away from her friends. However, once again, a great teacher came to the rescue. There is an old saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If this is true, Mrs. M. should feel flattered like no other. We would watch many nights a week as the stuffed animals were lined up in front of her easel to receive the nightly lesson. Mrs. M. showed her class the excitement of the beginnings of life as the class had the chance to care for eggs and then ducklings. She helped the students become excited about reading. She provided them a safe environment to try out new things and new situations.
Finally, we have her first male teacher, Mr. H. The big second grade! This is a teacher who loves to dance. He loves to make faces. He loves Star Wars. He loves to teach. Mr. H. is a young teacher and he is full of energy. She picked up right where she had left off at the end of first grade. This year, though, there are projects. Mr. H. has taught them to space out the work and do their best. She has taken responsibility for these lessons and wants to do her best. Many students have a count-down to summer going. They cannot wait for the freedom. Ours has a count-down going with a sadness. She doesn’t want school to end. She loves learning from this teacher and doesn’t want it to end. Mind you, she is already curious about who her teacher will be next year.
I’ve read many an article by teachers telling why they teach. Tomorrow, I will end my series talking about why I chose to enter the profession. However, tonight it is about looking at teaching from the parent’s point of view. These men and women come in to work every day knowing that they will expend every drop of energy taking care of 20+ children – other peoples’ children. They give it their all and don’t hold any back.
These fine people have made it their life’s work to give knowledge to the future. It is not easy. Gone are the days of a teacher standing in front of the class instructing in one way and no other. Teachers must now know how to show the same lesson in five different ways. They must understand how to check to ensure that each and every student has gained an understanding of the material. If they don’t, they must figure out a way to reteach the material in a new and engaging way.
These teachers are tasked to assess students, fill in reports, grade papers, plan lessons, straighten up the rooms, play nurse, and still figure out a way to have a life. They must also ensure that they follow ed. code to the letter, and deal with parents.
Yet they do all of the above with a smile on their face, a dance in their step, and a plan to keep our future full of hope. Yes. My wife and I are raising our child, but it is only through the help of so many other people. So tonight, I say to the world. Thank you. Thank you to every teacher that has worked with our daughter and every teacher who will work with our daughter. Thank you for taking up a profession that is critiqued by all, but chosen by few. Thank you for being the people you are and helping my daughter follow her dreams. Thank you for all you do for our daughter and every other child.
Thank you, dear reader, for meandering with me tonight.